How did President Roosevelt respond to requests to improve blacks' situation in the defense program before the election of 1940?

Question

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President Roosevelt did very little to improve the situation of blacks in the defense program before the election of 1940. He made some token appointments for blacks, such as appointing an African American advisor to the National Youth Administration, but did not push for any significant changes. He did not desegregate the armed forces or defense industries at this time. It wasn't until later in the war, under pressure from civil rights activists and black leaders, that Roosevelt began to take steps towards desegregation in the military and defense industry.

How Did President Roosevelt Respond to Requests to Improve Blacks